Warning: ADHD Meds May Cause Painful Erections

FDA makes announcement on "rare but serious risk"

Most Read

Is that a bottle of Ritalin in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? The FDA warned this week that a stimulant called methylphenidate, found in ADHD drugs like Ritalin and Concerta, might cause painful erections that last for hours. "If not treated right away, priapism can lead to permanent damage to the penis," the FDA said in its safety announcement. The FDA has updated the label on these drugs to include a warning about what it calls a "rare but serious risk."

To make an already awkward situation even worse, the median age of patients experiencing this symptom was only 12.5 years old, according to the FDA review. As if middle school weren't already a nightmare. And, unfortunately, switching to non-stimulant drugs is not necessarily the answer. The FDA warns that priapism happens even more with drugs like Strattera than their stimulant counterparts. Ouch. Talk about distracting.